Courtesy Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS, here’s video of the Senate Democratic Conference putting forth its own rules agenda. This list includes several GOP proposals from the spring 2009 rules reform project (which ended with a bit of rancor) that would equalize resources within the chamber.

In the Q&A that follows the string of statements, Minority Leader John Sampson is asked if the executive has weighed in on the GOP proposal to strip the lieutenant governor of his tie-breaking ability in a leadership vote, and Sampson says that it’s his understanding that the governor is looking into it.

Sampson says that Senate Democrats are also looking into their legal options with respect to the LG’s status.

Here’s the Democrats’ news release detailing their rules package:

To prevent a potential constitutional crisis caused by the Senate Republicans’ attempt to strip Lt. Gov. Duffy – Upstate New York’s highest ranking elected official – of his constitutional authority, Senate Democrats unveiled a bipartisan rules reform package that will improve the operation of the Senate and protect the integrity of the Constitution.

Last week, without any public notice or input, Senate Republicans threatened to plunge the state into a constitutional crisis by pushing changes to the Senate that usurp the power of Lt. Gov. Duffy and institutionalize the three-men-in-a-room process that is the root of Albany’s problems. To build on last year’s statewide bipartisan review process, Senate Democrats are calling for the immediate passage of rules reform recommendations issued by the bipartisan Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform, and rules reform legislation previously introduced by Senate Republicans.

Key among the proposed bipartisan rules changes are:

· Equal staff allocations, resources, and member items for Senators and the development of non-partisan, civil-service based procedures to hire staff in shared service areas;

· Reducing the number of standing committees, and limiting the number of committees on which a Senator may serve to not more than four committees and one subcommittee;

· Changes to the committee hearing process to allow greater access and participation for rank and file members;

· Increased public notification of legislation including but not limited to requiring committee agendas to be submitted one week prior to the scheduled committee meeting;

· Eliminating the ability to vote “aye without recommendation” on each item on a committee agenda; and

· Calling for regional pre-budget hearings to solicit input from various regions in the state.

Senate Democratic Leader John L. Sampson said, “The Senate Republicans’ attempt to strip Lt. Gov. Duffy of his authority is a threat to the integrity of our Constitution and the people of New York. Trampling on our laws and institutionalizing the secretive process that has been the root of Albany’s problems will further block the reforms the public deserves. To create good-paying jobs, reduce the tax burden on the Middle Class, and close the budget gap, we must work across party lines and not against each other.”

State Senator Daniel Squadron (D-Brooklyn/Manhattan) said, “We have a chance to build on the increased transparency and accountability we put in the Senate rules over the last two years. Unfortunately, we are faced with rules that will trigger a constitutional crisis and undermine the Senate’s ability to tackle the serious issues facing New York in the year to come. I hope that Senators from both parties can come together to consider the additional rules reforms that Senator Krueger, Senator Serrano, Senator Stewart-Cousins, Senator Bonacic, Senator Flanagan and I have proposed–reforms we can implement together to work toward a more functional state government.”

Deputy Democratic Leader Neil D. Breslin (D-Delmar) said, “During the last reapportionment the Senate Republicans increased the number of Senate districts to sixty-two creating a situation where we can have a tie. Now almost ten years later they are trying to strip Lieutenant Governor Duffy, Upstate New York’s highest ranking elected official, of his Constitutional authority. The provisions in the state Constitution regarding the Lt. Governor’s rights are clear and any change to those rights must be made through a constitutional amendment. Also, last session the Senate Democrats began the process of changing Albany. We engaged in a bipartisan review process and enacted the most significant rules changes in Senate history to make the Senate more open, inclusive and accountable. These proposed rules changes by the Senate Republicans stand contradictory to that effort.”

Senator Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) said, “Everyone knows who my predecessor was and knows that he epitomized what was wrong with Albany: the chaos, back room deals, closed door meetings and power plays. Like my constituents, I believe that the people of New York want to know what is going on in their government and to know that their elected officials are focused on serving their constituents, not on serving themselves by playing games in Albany. Let us stand together and adopt bipartisan rules recommendations that will make all New Yorkers proud and let us get back to the real business of the Senate: debating how to make New York a safer place, working together to provide our children with the quality education they deserve and finding new and innovative ways to spark job growth.”

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/WF-Westchester) said, “The rules that we are proposing streamline the Senate’s operations, call for more equitable allocation of resources among Senators, and empower rank and file members to better serve their constituents. These are common- sense reforms that Republicans and Democrats agreed upon last Session when we created the Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform. Now, it is time to pass these rules and make our government more transparent, responsive and better able to serve the needs of all New Yorkers.”

Senator Mike Gianaris (D-Queens) said, “Rather than fulfill their promise to enact independent redistricting, the Republican first order of business is an attempt to usurp the Constitution and strip upstate’s highest ranking official of his Constitutional powers. There is no clearer indicator that Republicans intend to return to the worst of Albany’s past practices instead of following through on their campaign rhetoric pledging greater bipartisanship and transparency.”

Senator Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan/Bronx) said, “Republicans talk a good game about the constitution but they can hardly walk the walk. Last week, Senate Republicans tried to gut the power of the lieutenant governor which is guaranteed by New York State’s constitution. They did so for purely political purposes and without any public input whatsoever. I urge Republicans to put the interests of the public ahead of their partisan power plays and take up the bi-partisan, common sense reforms offered by Democrats.”

Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) said, “We’ve heard a lot of talk about changing the way Albany does business. Now is the time to move past rhetoric and enact real rules reform. Last year we took an important first step in passing much needed reforms, but it simply wasn’t enough. More must be done. These are reforms that have been supported by Democrats and Republicans in the past so there is no reason they shouldn’t have bi-partisan support now. If my colleagues are serious about following through on the promises they made while campaigning then they should make these changes to the Senate Rules.”

Senator Jose Serrano (D-Bronx/Manhattan) said, “The reforms presented here today will help establish a more fair and robust legislative process, as well as protect the integrity of the Constitution. Particularly, the equal allocation of all resources will ensure that certain districts do not continue to benefit at the expense of others. Communities across New York should not receive a divergent amount of resources simply based on the party with which their elected official is affiliated, and we must all work together to find the best ways to distribute the state’s dollars. The bipartisan Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform, of which I am a member, called for the passage of these very recommendations, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support taking this important step toward significant reform within the New York State Senate.”

· Equal allocations to each Senator for staff, newsletters and other printed materials, postage, travel, and other prerequisites;

· Provides for the possibility of greater allocations for Senators in leadership positions or serving as Chairs or Rankers of committees; and

· Adds a mandatory secondary reference to the Codes Committee.

3. The “Minority Report” Hostile Amendment provides for:

· The outstanding changes to the Senate Rules that were identified as priorities in the Minority Report of the Temporary Committee on Rules Reform including:

· Limiting the number of Committees on which a Senator may serve to not more than four committees and one subcommittee;

· Eliminating the ability to vote “aye without recommendation” on each item of a committee agenda.;

· Requiring the Journal Clerk to date and time-stamp each bill upon introduction;

· Calling for regional pre-budget hearings to solicit input from various areas in the state;

· Specifying additional funding for Ranking Members on committees, allowing them to hire necessary staff such as Minority committee directors and counsels;

· Specifying that the administration and operations of the Senate shall be provided equitably to Majority and Minority senators;

· Requiring Committee agendas to be submitted one week prior to the scheduled committee meeting; and

· Requiring the Secretary of the Senate to develop non-partisan, civil-service based procedures to hire staff in shared service areas.

4. The “Krueger – Squadron” Rules Resolution:

· Establish equal staff allocations for all Senators, with supplements for chairs and rankers, with ranking minority member supplement equal to 50 percent of chair supplement.

· Provide equal access to resources for all Senators.

· Mandate equal member item initiative allocations for all Senators, and a ban on member item initiative funding for any organization where the Senator or family member serves as a board member or officer.

· Establish a nonpartisan administrative staff of the Senate.

· Create a proportionate ratio for central staff based on conference membership – compared to current system.

· Require legislative leaders of the Senate and Assembly to convene conference committees, as opposed to the current Joint Rule which authorizes – but does not require it – and also allow the sponsor or chair of committee of origin to call conference committees.

· Reduce the number of committees from 32 to 23 and change membership so all committees have an odd number of members, to encourage more active participation by committee members.

· Reduce maximum number of committees per Senator from seven to five.

· Eliminate the ability of a committee to introduce a bill, so all bills will be identified as sponsored by a specific Senator.

· Allow ranking minority members or a majority of committee members to call committee hearings.

· Require members to be present at the committee meeting to cast committee votes.

· Increase the requirements for reports on bills coming out of committee to include purpose of the bill, the proposed changes to existing law, section-by-section analysis, fiscal impacts, the bill’s procedural history, committee or subcommittee votes, any individual member’s comments on the bill, and organizations which support and oppose the bill.

· Require active lists to be published 24 hours before session, and prohibit supplemental active lists without unanimous consent.

· Eliminate the Committee on Rules’ ability to consider bills without being on a printed agenda for 24 hours unless they come with messages from Governor.

· Require bills amended with hostile amendments on the floor retain their place on the third reading calendar.

· Reduce the number of members required to support a Petition for Consideration on the floor from three-fifths to a majority.

· Eliminate the ability to vote aye without recommendation on bills in committee.

· Require committee votes on whether to conduct a hearing or mark-up before a bill is reported out of committee.

· Explicitly ensure that chairs and ranking members have full power to hire and fire committee staff.

· Require that committee budgets and member staff allocations be completely transparent and published on the Senate website.

· Require that after a hostile amendment, a bill on the calendar move to first reading.

· Require Senate leadership to request conference committees to reconcile similar bills passed in both the Senate and the Assembly, including budget bills.

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